A senior police officer is at the centre of an investigation into a paedophile ring at a council-run leisure centre, it emerged last night.

The inspector, a father-of-two in his early 50s, is one of seven men arrested as part of the inquiry into teenage prostitution. The officer has been freed on police bail, and is suspended from duty. South Wales Police last night confirmed that the officer, based in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, was one of seven arrested in connection with allegations of gross indecency at Aberdare Leisure Centre in Glamorgan. The men have been bailed until 15 January.